Who We Are at KG Strong

I grew up as both an athlete and a performer, never imagining that the path between the two would lead me here. When I started out in the working world as an actress, I needed a side gig to help pay the bills. That side gig-teaching yoga, pilates, and strength training-quickly became a passion that outshined everything else. What began as a way to support my art turned into my true calling. After years of private training, teaching yoga and kettlebells, and working with clients one-on-one, I opened KG Strong in 2017 inside the historic Bok Building. Along the way, I became an Elite StrongFirst Certified Instructor, honing my skills with kettlebells, barbells, and bodyweight strength while mentoring other coaches in the methodology. My personal journey has shaped my professional one. After years of challenges trying to build a family, my husband and I welcomed two little boys in 2021 and 2023, along with our poodle, Piper. Those experiences deepened my commitment to helping others find strength through every season of life-whether it’s pregnancy, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, or simply the desire to feel capable and confident. And though fitness became my primary career, I still keep a foot in the performance world. I was proud to appear in The Appointment (a Lightning Rod Special production named a New York Times Favorite of 2023), and I look forward to returning to the stage again. For me, strength is more than a profession-it’s a way to build resilience, create community, and carry the weight of life with a little more power and joy.

Though relatively new to the industry, Tristan immediately fell in love with coaching and has worked his way up to Strongfirst Elite and Lead Coach at KG Strong. He is driven and eager to help anyone achieve their goals and reach new levels of strength. Tristan’s classes will push you and be challenging, but they will also be a lot of fun (get ready for plenty of Turkish Get-Ups and Phil Collins)! Tristan believes that fitness isn’t a sprint, but a marathon and that every individual has a unique exercise journey. To him, fitness success isn’t about look or appearance, but consistency, progress, and fun. When Tristan is not in the gym, he loves playing the drums, watching movies, and hanging out with his dog, Ripley. He is loves being a part of the amazing team at KG Strong and the great community that surrounds it!

Katie is a NASM certified personal trainer, SFG2, and former collegiate athlete. She has been a personal trainer in Philadelphia for 3 years and the KG Strong manager for over a year. She loves to make movement fun, accessible, and empowering. You can expect to feel challenged while confident and supported in one of her classes. When she isn’t coaching she is seeing live music out and about with her dog, Madi enjoying the city, or reading a good book.

Shoshana Katz is a strength coach and cycling instructor based in Philadelphia. After nearly 15 years in the fitness industry, from managing and owning studios to teaching classes, her primary focus now is working with her clients and small groups. She specializes in helping people build and maintain strength, encouraging them to be active participants in their life and the lives of the ones they love. She believes exercise should be fun, accessible and empowering. Over the last 5 years, she has also expanded her work helping women and birthing individuals through their journey pre and during pregnancy as well as postpartum. As a parent herself, and having personally gone through IVF, she understands the physical and mental challenges that someone can go through to build their family.

When not coaching, you can find her buried in a book, taking her pit mix for a walk, chasing after her toddler and enjoying a good meal with her loving husband.

Luis Hernandez has been a certified personal trainer since 2019 and is passionate about helping people move better, get stronger, and feel more confident. He holds certifications in SFG Level 1, SFL, and CFSC, with specialties in strength training, kettlebells, and functional movement. Luis works with clients of all experience levels, from beginners just starting their fitness journey to athletes looking to improve performance or recover from injury. His approach blends strength, mobility, and conditioning to create programs that are both effective and sustainable. He believes training should support not just your workouts, but your lifestyle, health, and long-term goals. Above all, Luis strives to make every session challenging, motivating, and fun.

Amy began practicing yoga as a way to gain flexibility and reduce injuries in other athletic endeavors and eventually came to learn and appreciate how practicing physical alignment illuminated the mind, body, and spirit. As a kid and adult Yoga Instructor, she strives to guide students of all ages and abilities to connect with their breath, embrace the individuality of their practice, and support healthy biomechanics for a sustainable practice.

Amy is also passionate about her other gig as a speech-language pathologist, actively competes in local softball and field hockey leagues, and thrives on learning new things to bring to practice.

Yesenia is a photographer and yoga teacher. She has been a student of yoga for seven years and has been teaching alignment based classes for kids and adults since 2023. You’ll often find her on the admin side of the yoga world at Three Queens Yoga! Through her classes she hopes to inspire self- inquiry and connection to the breath.

She enjoys hiking, dancing, and learning to sew.